Umno Youth will continue to defend all the privileges of the Malays and bumiputera enshrined in the constitution, although the country will implement the National Transformation Plan (TN50) in 2050.

Deputy Youth chief Khairul Azwan Harun said the movement, however, hoped that the Malays and bumiputera would remain competitive alongside other races in the future, even without the privileges.

"Umno Youth movement will never budge from our stand today, especially for the Malays and bumiputera that we will continue to protect.

"However, we believe in 2050, without any quota for Malays and bumiputera, they still can compete in a healthy and competitive way with other Malaysians.

"Perhaps, even to reach further ahead and stand taller than the rest. That's the aspiration expressed by (Youth chief) Khairy Jamaluddin," he said in response to Khairy's recent statement about the quota that was deemed insulting to the Malays.

Explaining further, Khairul Azwan said Khairy's statement issued during the TN50 dialogue with Indian youth had been misinterpreted by some and he dismissed the notion that the matter would be brought as a motion in the upcoming Umno general assembly.

Asked about Malaysia Invoke study that showed Umno would win the 14th general election (GE14) in the event of three-cornered contests, he said the party was always ready for any contest.

He said the youth movement had also worked closely with the Jalinan Rakyat Plus (JR Plus) machinery which was a combination of the Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri as well as other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to ensure the confidence of the people would return to BN in the GE14.

Commenting on the death of religious school student in Kota Tinggi, Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi, 11, who was allegedly beaten by hostel assistant warden, Khairul Azwan hoped that the Education Ministry and related parties would be more cautious in selecting individuals to shoulder the post.

"When comes to the selection of wardens, the parties concerned should tighten the filtering system in terms of the criteria and counseling sessions may also be given from time to time for the wardens," he said.

- Bernama